Misleading Statement of Information Solicitation Example
Certain business entities have reported receiving misleading solicitations like the example below urging the business to submit an order form and processing fee to a third party to file a Statement of Information on their behalf with the California Secretary of State or suffer penalties, fines, suspension or seizure.
The misleading solicitation can be identified from the following characteristics:
- The address disclosed on the top of the page are false addresses. Verify all California Secretary of State's addresses on our Contact Information page.
- Processing fees are five+ times higher than it is to file directly with the California Secretary of State. The fee to file the required Statement of Information is $25 for California and out-of-state stock corporations, and $20 for California nonprofit corporations and all limited liability companies. The Statement of Information may be filed online at bizfile Online.
- The SOS is not affiliated with any other websites accepting forms or payments for business filings.
These solicitations are not being made or authorized by the California Secretary of State or any other governmental entity. Although a business entity can use an intermediary to submit filings and fees to our office, no business is required to go through another company in order to file its documents with the California Secretary of State.
Report a Scam
If you received a misleading solicitation or scam, report it to the California Secretary of State's Business Programs Division as well as the California Attorney General.
1. Contact the Business Programs Division. Use the contact form to let us know about the misleading/fraudulent solicitation.
2. File a Consumer Complaint Against Business/Corporation with the California Attorney General. Businesses should also submit a written complaint along with the entire solicitation (including the solicitation letter, the outer and return envelopes, and all related documents received, if available) to the California Attorney General, Public Inquiry Unit, P.O. Box 944255, Sacramento, California 94244–2550.
Misleading Statement of Information Example
Below is a sample of a misleading solicitation. Sections in red display information that you should be aware of.
